Blog
Posted on 4/22/2014 5:39:25 PM
By Coraly Hanson
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Juried in to the CA. Statewide 2014.
I just found out one of my paintings was accepted into the CA. Statewide Landscape competition. This is the fifth one I've been juried into over the past few years. I sent in three images, and thought the other two were possibly better, but it's all certainly in the eye of the beholder. David Laffel is the judge this year, and since he's a tonalist, I'm not holding my breath for any awards, tho it would be fun! I did love doing this painting on location in Yosemite. I started about 8:00 AM, so the light was gorgeous on the mountain and valley and tree trunks. After I finished, about 10:15, it all got a little flatter, and mountain was just gray and the grass a duller green, etc. Early and late are the best times to paint, usually. A couple watched me paint most of this and ended up coming to my studio a month later and buying three others. Personal contact is a great way to market!
Posted on 4/15/2014 8:44:10 PM
By Coraly Hanson
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sold at beach
Lee and I went to Monterey along with Kevin and Wanda MacPhearson, after they had spent the weekend here with us. MuShu, their sweet puppy, was darling and loved being here, too. The convention was inspiring and exhausting at times. Kevin did a great job of the keynote address, and John Burton and Daniel Gerhart did fabulous demos. I also got to know Jean Perry pretty well. Wish I'd met her years ago...she's a kindred spirit! It was delightful to meet up with lots of painting buddies from Facebook and former workshops I've attended.
I painted this 9x12 of Carmel Beach Dunes one evening after class. A couple came up to me as I was finishing it and said they'd looked at all the other artists on the beach, about 50, and mine was the best! I gave her a hug and kiss. They said they wanted to buy it, which paid for the convention. She also emailed today and wants to come to my studio with her husband to see other paintings as well.
After listening to Eric Rhodes' talks on marketing, I still think my best way to sell paintings is to meet people one on one, especially while out painting. I did a 16x20 at Pacific Grove yesterday, and a family from Bakersfield wants to buy that one too. I also was stopped by two couples eating at Rio Grill over the weekend, and they looked at my images I'd just painted, and want me to come to their homes to paint their views in Carmel and Pebble Beach, and maybe even take the wives out to start to learn to paint. Sounded like lots of fun!
Kevin also said if I publish a coffee table type art book with my images and some verses and quotes, it would be money much better spent than on advertising. He said I can give those away as gifts and to potential collectors, and because it's such a nice gift book, they will keep it and remember me, for sure. I like that idea better than trying to continue advertising nationally at several thousand dollars a page.
